Fiji Yogurt and Ferran Adria
Finding molecular gastronomy at a Hillcrest fro-yo parlor.
I remember watching videos of Ferran Adria explaining spherification and how elBulli’s kitchen could make any kind of liquid into a kind of caviar. The reaction between sodium alginate and calcium compounds, naturally occurring in the food or otherwise, would …
First look at Great Maple
Hillcrest's new eatery has red light specials and a sprawling menu, but does it work?
I had to be the first to eat at Great Maple because there is no restaurant in San Diego that’s closer to my house. I did a little snooping around when it was under construction in early February, and I …
Shattered prejudices against OB Noodle House
This is me admitting to being wrong about a restaurant based solely on not wanting to believe the hype. I stand corrected.
Sometimes, I like to think that I know better than everybody else. Sometimes, I do. Sometimes, as with the OB Noodle House (2218 Cable Street, 619-450-6868), I’m wrong. Everybody--from yelping idiots to Reader critics to my vegan ex-girlfriend who shopped …
Sloppy's Burritos opens in Hillcrest
The plaza at Fourth and University is exploding with new restaurants (sorry, Subway!) and the newest one is an alternative burrito place.
When I was eating at that new pizza place in Hillcrest, workers were putting the finishing touches on yet another new restaurant in the plaza at Fourth and University. “Sloppy’s Burritos,” said the sign, with a little avocado pictograffic for …
Bailiwick Brunch
Downtown San Diego's new hot spot is long on booze and short on food.
I’d stopped by Bailiwick--a new cocktail bar downtown at 756 5th Avenue--a while ago and had a good experience with the drinks and vibe there. It was chilled out and stylish; and the cocktails menu was sincere without being pretentious. …
Whole horse mackerel, you say?
Seeking conciliatory sushi in Liberty Station, I found some true delights at Sushi Mura.
After my trip to AI Sushi, which was more disappointing than thrilling, I followed a tip from a reader (thanks, Reg!) to Sushi Mura (2816 Historic Decatur Road, 619-241-2587) in Liberty Station. It’s new, only being open since some time …
Heat Bar and Kitchen
New restaurant for North Park outdoes itself for happy hour.
Despite the fact that it’s right up in my neighborhood, I seldom travel Park Boulevard south of University. What can I say other than that it’s just not an appealing couple of blocks...until now! Oscar-worthy dramatic flair aside, Heat Bar …
Ai Sushi and Teriyaki
Downtown Japanese hole-in-the-wall is "good enough."
It was probably some form of internet advertising that led me to Ai Sushi and Teriyaki on Sixth Ave downtown. At least, I assume it was the internet’s fault since I was grossly misled, something which happens often online. I …
Project Pie making progress in Hillcrest
"Build your own pizza" lands at 4th & University
Fourth and University is a tough piece of Hillcrest real estate to make a restaurant stick. Project Pie is the newest contender with that corner in mind. According to the internet, James Markham, the mastermind behind the operation, has been …
Espresso on the go at Ride On
Bay Park's drive-through coffee is as good as most full-sized shops and twice as convenient.
Cruising up Morena Boulevard in Bay Park the other day, I decided it was finally time to check out the suspiciously convenient drive-through coffee stand in the parking lot at the corner of Ingulf Street, just South of Clairmont Drive. …
Piatti Ristorante, La Jolla classic
This restaurant may not have changed much in recent years, but it doesn't seem to need it.
I got some great service the other day at Piatti (2182 Avendia de la Playa, 858-454-1589) in La Jolla Shores. It was that all too rare kind of evening where the entire staff at a restaurant is courteous, professional, lacking …
Martinis Above Fourth
Stick with the silly drinks and you'll be OK.
Martini’s Above Fourth (3940 Fourth Avenue) and I disagree on what, exactly, constitutes a “Martini.” I’ll argue in favor of gin, a splash of vermouth, and an olive or two. They seem to think that anything served up in a …
Korea BBQ House
Enduring Kearny Mesa BBQ spot is long on portions, short on excellence.
Seeing as how it’s next door to the legendary Min Sok Chon karaoke emporium, and how it’s been operating successfully for 30-odd years, I figured the Korea BBQ House (4620 Convoy Street) would be all right. The building’s blue, mock …
First look at Soda and Swine
North Park's new "concept" restaurant is here, but it's a tough meatball to swallow.
I can’t pass binding judgment on Soda and Swine since it’s only been open for three days, but I did sneak in, grind a sandwich, and sip some pop out of sheer curiosity over the high-profile renovation and replacement of …
Bread Canyon turns up the heat
An update on the "bread CSA" that I found out about last year.
I don’t know if anybody remembers, but I was clued in to a secret sourdough bread baking operation last fall and I promised to keep tabs on it. When I first found out about the “bread CSA,” it was in …
Buona Forchetta opens in South Park
New pizzeria occupies long-empty building and brings Neopolitan style gusto.
The building across Beech Street from Alchemy sat empty for years until Buona Forchetta moved in with a wood-burning pizza oven and a guarantee of certifiable Neopolitan pizza. Now, South Parkers can’t seem to get enough of the place and …
Haute caffeine at Better Buzz Coffee Lab
The coffee's super serious, but the atmosphere is pretty chill.
The Better Buzz “Coffee Lab” in Mission Beach is yet another entrant in the melee of next-level coffee purveyors. They boast pour overs and “Kyoto drip,” the excruciatingly slow preparation of room-temperature coffee over hours and hours. The descriptor “single-origin” …
Lofty Aspirations at Chaplos Restaurant and Bar
Downtown restaurant was nicer than I'd expected...and a little snooty.
Chaplos is far enough removed from downtown’s hubbub that parking isn’t impossible, although the nearby pay lot ends up looking pretty good after a few trips around the block. The glass walled building’s colored lighting shifts along the color spectrum …
Adam's Steak 'n Eggs
Fifty years of sirloins and booze breakfasts in Hotel Circle.
With dreams of steak and eggs I set out for Hotel Circle and Adam’s, home of the eponymous specialty and sister restaurant to the legendary Albie’s Beef Inn at the Travelodge. I don’t think they’ve changed much at Adam’s since …